I have just recently (yesterday - Saturday 19th dec) won a bidding war on TradeMe for a traveller Renzetti ,and I picked it up and have used it with loving care.
does anyone know much about these vises? I need to know how to take care of it, to keep it working properly and smoothly for a long long time as it wasn’t cheap.
Does it need oiling? etc any help would be gratefully recieved.
Thanks in advance
Jeanne
Never oiled mine. I have had mine for over 15 years. Replaced the “O” ring once. I e-mailed Renzetti and they sent me the O rings.
I had the thumb screw version which I do still use on occasion, but I bought the cam (like you said, not cheap)
I also bought the pedestal base too. The shaft is longer on the clamp version so it sits taller in the pedestal base.
Love mine and I have beat the heck out of it. They are tuff!
Only thing I’ve ever done is replaced the O-ring. Bought a pack at Home Depot and keep a couple extra on the vice shaft; if it breaks again, I know right where to find a spare. Great vise, enjoy.
Regards,
Scott
Someone mentioned that Renzetti O rings are different then hardware stores…what do you think? I know I am on #2 in almost 20 years of using allot.
This might help.
www.renzetti.com/help.php?section=FAQ#1
I have had a Traveler since 1997. Just oiled it about once every two years. Still works like new.
Hmmm guess mine is due:D
i’ve owned one for 20+ years and all ive done was tie flies with it. no maintenance whatsoever.
I bought the “Tube Fly-Vise Head” that came with three mandrels, about five years ago. I also had to replace the little black ring (at the rear of the vise head from the local hardware store.
The only other thing I did, was remove the stubby handle, and replace it with a actual handle that I made from parts from the Hardware Store, a piece of wood that I drill holes in, one for fitting onto the vise, and the other hole for the drawer handle, so I can crank the vise head without the flopping motion, as the heads weight makes it no balanced when using the rotary features of the vise.
Below are three “Tying Tip” articles I wrote on some of the possibilities. I did these for some who have limited dexterity!
Customizing a Rotary Vise, Balance
Customizing a Rotary Vise Handle (Part 1)
Customizing a Rotary Vise Handle (Part 2)
WARNING:
As for the Cam Levered for the Vise Head, you have to leave some space at the tip of the jaws (with the hook placed between the jaws) before turning the cam gear lever, if the jaws are too tight before you turn the lever on the Cam, you can permanently damage the jaws. Too much pressure and the jaws will be over-stressed, then they will either bend outward, or crack. Either way, you will have to be replaced the jaws, because they are made of hardened annealed metal, and the over-stressing has ruined them. The jaws when the hook is placed between the jaws, and the lever has been turned to tighten and hold the hook, should be parallel to each other (the same as on the two-screw models).
~Parnelli 
(Chartered Member of “Friend of FAOL”)
The O-rings I got work fine; $1.29 for a pack of 5.
Regards,
Scott
Quality Vise, Congrats! You could always call the company:
Renzetti Inc.
8800 Grissom Parkway
Titusville, FL 32780 USA
Phone: 1-321-267-7705
Thanks so much for all this guys - I am so thrilled to see I have a good vise, I just have a couple more important questions to ask: This traveller I have is a few years old, it is solid metal except for about 3 - 4 screws which look like nylon or plastic. It is good to know that they are really hardy vises.
Can the Traveller take commercial fly tying? I now also have a Danvise as well and wonder which one of them will stand up to the “crunch” better.
Someone said he changed the standard jaws with a cam set, he said the vise now works better for him - what are these and are they expensive and where would I get them from?
I also tie Saltwater flies as well for a local shop, will the Traveller handle these? Or do you think I should use the Danvise for that?
Thanks again guys n gals for putting my mind at ease about the vise. Do have a wicked Christmas won’t you all.
Jeanne
see my answers in red
Ditto above.
Good luck with your new vise.
What’s “trade me”?
The originally poster is from New Zealand and they have an auction site similar to Ebay called Trade Me: http://www.trademe.co.nz/
Just go to the Renzetti web site. There you will find a spares kit for the vise as well as fing out about the cam locking jaws for the vise with a price. Renzetti is a very good company and I am extremely satified with my two vises. I have the Renzetti Presentaion 4000 with the cam jaws with a saltwater base for my show and vacation tying and my every day tying vise is the Renzetti Master. Hope this helps you out.